| No Dog training means more to most new puppy | | | | Again, even when outside, it helps to wait and |
| owners than that first important lesson: Not in the | | | | watch for the desired behaviour then issue the |
| House! | | | | command. That helps the dog associate the |
| Teaching your Dog to go to the toilet outside the | | | | command with the behaviour. If the dog hasn't |
| home, not in it, usually starts between six and | | | | gone after a few minutes and a few 'quickly' |
| eight weeks of age. Dogs as young as four | | | | commands, take it back inside for an hour. Of |
| weeks old, have been started on the house | | | | course, if you spot the pre-toilet behaviour in less |
| training, but at such a young age, a puppy is | | | | time, go outside again immediately. |
| unlikely to have enough muscle control. | | | | Dogs have a surprising ability to quickly learn what |
| Like any dog training, the trainer's patience is as | | | | their 'alpha' (the leader of the pack) wants. This is |
| important as the dog's temperament. 'Sit', 'stay' | | | | almost always accomplished by associating a |
| and other behaviours can often be learned in a | | | | verbal command with behaviour, followed by |
| few days. 'Potty' training can take weeks - | | | | praise. Punishment is usually counter-productive, |
| sometimes as short as two, often a month or | | | | and nowhere more so than in toilet training. Never |
| more. | | | | rub a dog's nose in waste. |
| As with other learned behaviours, you should look | | | | Paper and/or crate training is preferred by some. |
| for signs of the impending action, then enforce | | | | A pup can be trained to go on a newspaper, or |
| and direct them with a voice command followed | | | | on one of the chemically treated puppy pads |
| by praise. In this case the technique works to the | | | | designed for the purpose. Some small breeds that |
| trainer's advantage, since all dogs will naturally go | | | | live all day in the home may not need to go |
| to the toilet. The trick is to get them to do it | | | | outside at all. |
| when and where you want! | | | | The technique has a couple of down sides |
| Look for signs such as circling or squatting, then | | | | however. Unlike cats, dogs will rarely go in a |
| pick up the pup, say 'outside' and hurry outside. | | | | perfumed litter box. Newspapers (even with the |
| The puppy may circle some more, but will often | | | | top layer removed after the dog goes) will |
| squat immediately. As it begins, say "quickly" (or | | | | eventually create an unpleasant smell in the house. |
| some other phrase) in a clear, firm (but not | | | | Also, long before the odour becomes unattractive |
| angry) voice. Wait until the puppy finished and | | | | to humans, dogs can smell their own distinctive |
| give lots of praise. | | | | aroma. They don't find it unattractive - quite the |
| You won't always be able to catch the puppy | | | | opposite. And that's the problem. |
| about to begin, but don't become angry or | | | | Dogs that are paper trained will often prefer to |
| impatient when the dog goes to the toilet indoors. | | | | eliminate indoors. Sometimes they'll miss the paper |
| It takes time for the dog to learn to tell you it's | | | | by only an inch, creating a mess to clean up. |
| time to 'go outside'. It also takes time for the | | | | Once the odour is in the carpet, the dog will often |
| muscles needed to control bladder and bowels to | | | | seek that spot out as its proper 'place to go'. This |
| develop. | | | | makes training the dog to go to the toilet outside |
| Young dogs need to go to the toilet every 2-3 | | | | even more difficult. Best to suffer a few |
| hours, on average. If you haven't spotted | | | | accidents than to create a hard-to-overcome |
| evacuation behaviour within that time, take the | | | | habit. |
| dog outside anyway. Issue the command 'quickly" | | | | Patience, praise and consistency are the keys to |
| and wait. At first, usually, the dog will have no clue | | | | any dog training. Elimination training is the first test |
| what you want. | | | | for you and your dog. |